Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate whether dietary supplementation with B vitamins or omega 3 fatty acids, or both, could prevent major cardiovascular events in patients with a history of ischaemic heart disease or stroke.

DESIGN:

Double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial; factorial design.

SETTING:

Recruitment throughout France via a network of 417 cardiologists, neurologists, and other physicians.

PARTICIPANTS:

2501 patients with a history of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or ischaemic stroke.

CONCLUSION:

This study does not support the routine use of dietary supplements containing B vitamins or omega 3 fatty acids for prevention of cardiovascular disease in people with a history of ischaemic heart disease or ischaemic stroke, at least when supplementation is introduced after the acute phase of the initial event.